WALTHAM, Mass. – Four members of the Brandeis University women's soccer team have been selected to the 2012 All-University Athletic Association (UAA) team. Sophomore forward Dara Spital of Miami, Fla., was a first-team selection, while classmate Alec Spivack, also of Miami, Fla., was a second-team selection after splitting time in the midfield and on defense. Sophomore Emma Eddy of Hinesburg, Vt., and junior Kelly Peterson of Houston, Texas, both defenders, were named All-UAA honorable mention.
Spital, a transfer from Division I Central Florida, was one of the best offensive players in the Association this season. She finished the regular season with 12 goals and five assists for 29 points, tying for the UAA lead in goals with three others and finishing third in points. Spital led the UAA with seven game-winning goals, tied for eighth-most among all NCAA Division III players. Spital produced three multi-goal games this season, including two key first-half goals in a 3-0 win over NYU on Nov. 3 in the Judges' regular-season finale. Spital also had the lone goal in a UAA win over Rochester on Sept. 29.
Spivack spent the first half of the season as a starting midfielder before moving to the back line for the final five matches of the regular season. She had three assists and her first collegiate goal this season. The goal was a game-winner on Oct. 18 in a 1-0 win over Lesley University. Her three assists tied for third on the squad and included a game-winning helper in a 1-0 win over Wellesley on Sept. 24.
Eddy and Peterson were both instrumental in a historic defensive season for the Brandeis women. Eddy, who transferred from Union College, and Peterson, who was an All-UAA honorable mention in 2011 as well, helped the Judges to register a school-record 13 shutouts in 19 regular-season games, two more than in any previous season. Those shutouts include a pair of 0-0 draws in UAA play, one of which came against then-top-ranked Emory on Oct. 26 and marked the first time in more than two years that the Eagles were held off the board. Peterson also provided some offense, with her booming free kicks leading to two goals and an assist. She had the game-winning goal against Clark University on Sep. 1, and notched an equalizer on the road against UAA champions Washington University Oct. 14 in a game the Judges ultimately lost, 2-1.
Under head coach Denise Dallamora, the Brandeis women finished the regular season with a record of 13-4-2, 2-3-2 and fifth place in the UAA, and their school-record 13 shutouts. The Judges were rewarded with their second NCAA Division III Tourmament berth in three years. They will travel to Amherst College to take on 24th-ranked Union College on Nov. 10 at 1:30 p.m. You can find out more about the Amherst regional at https://www.amherst.edu/athletics/teams/fall/soccer-w/articles/2012/1105_ncaa.
For more information about Brandeis women's soccer, please visit our web site at http://www.brandeisjudges.com/sports/wsoc.
For the complete UAA All-Association team, please click here: http://www.uaa.rochester.edu/Soccer/12%20WSoc%20All_Assoc.pdf.
Spital is a 2011 graduate of Gulliver Preparatory School. She is the daughter of Michael and Jeanne Spital, Miami, Fla.
Spivack is a 2011 graduate of Miami Palmetto Senior High School. She is the daughter of Michael and Liz Spivack, Miami, Fla.
Eddy is a 2011 graduate of Champlain Valley Union High School. She is the daughter of David and Marie Eddy, Hinesburg, Vt.
Peterson is a 2010 graduate of Clear Lake High School. She is the daughter of Doug Peterson and Randa McCartney, Houston, Texas.